Proverbs Challenge – Chapter 6

Dangerous Promises

My son, if you become a]”>[a]surety for your friend,
If you have b]”>[b]shaken hands in pledge for a stranger,
You are snared by the words of your mouth;
You are taken by the words of your mouth.
So do this, my son, and deliver yourself;
For you have come into the hand of your friend:
Go and humble yourself;
Plead with your friend.
Give no sleep to your eyes,
Nor slumber to your eyelids.
Deliver yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter,
And like a bird from the hand of the c]”>[c]fowler.

The Folly of Indolence

Go to the ant, you sluggard!
Consider her ways and be wise,
Which, having no d]”>[d]captain,
Overseer or ruler,
Provides her e]”>[e]supplies in the summer,
And gathers her food in the harvest.
How long will you f]”>[f]slumber, O sluggard?
When will you rise from your sleep?
10 A little sleep, a little slumber,
A little folding of the hands to sleep—
11 So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler,
And your need like an armed man.

The Wicked Man

12 A worthless person, a wicked man,
Walks with a perverse mouth;
13 He winks with his eyes,
He g]”>[g]shuffles his feet,
He points with his fingers;
14 Perversity is in his heart,
He devises evil continually,
He sows discord.
15 Therefore his calamity shall come suddenly;
Suddenly he shall be broken without remedy.

16 These six things the Lord hates,
Yes, seven are an abomination to h]”>[h]Him:
17 Ai]”>[i] proud look,
A lying tongue,
Hands that shed innocent blood,
18 A heart that devises wicked plans,
Feet that are swift in running to evil,
19 A false witness who speaks lies,
And one who sows discord among brethren.

Beware of Adultery

20 My son, keep your father’s command,
And do not forsake the law of your mother.
21 Bind them continually upon your heart;
Tie them around your neck.
22 When you roam, j]”>[j]they will lead you;
When you sleep, they will keep you;
And when you awake, they will speak with you.
23 For the commandment is a lamp,
And the law a light;
Reproofs of instruction are the way of life,
24 To keep you from the evil woman,
From the flattering tongue of a seductress.
25 Do not lust after her beauty in your heart,
Nor let her allure you with her eyelids.
26 For by means of a harlot
A man is reduced to a crust of bread;
And k]”>[k]an adulteress will prey upon his precious life.
27 Can a man take fire to his bosom,
And his clothes not be burned?
28 Can one walk on hot coals,
And his feet not be seared?
29 So is he who goes in to his neighbor’s wife;
Whoever touches her shall not be innocent.

30 People do not despise a thief
If he steals to satisfy himself when he is starving.
31 Yet when he is found, he must restore sevenfold;
He may have to give up all the substance of his house.
32 Whoever commits adultery with a woman lacks understanding;
He who does so destroys his own soul.
33 Wounds and dishonor he will get,
And his reproach will not be wiped away.
34 For jealousy is a husband’s fury;
Therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.
35 He will l]”>[l]accept no recompense,
Nor will he be appeased though you give many gifts.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 6:1 guaranty or collateral
  2. Proverbs 6:1 Lit. struck
  3. Proverbs 6:5 One who catches birds in a trap or snare
  4. Proverbs 6:7 Lit. leader
  5. Proverbs 6:8 Lit. bread
  6. Proverbs 6:9 Lit. lie down
  7. Proverbs 6:13 gives signals, lit. scrapes
  8. Proverbs 6:16 Lit. His soul
  9. Proverbs 6:17 Lit. Haughty eyes
  10. Proverbs 6:22 Lit. it
  11. Proverbs 6:26 Wife of another, lit. a man’s wife
  12. Proverbs 6:35 Lit. lift up the face of any

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This Post Has 11 Comments

  1. Odogun Oluwaseun Morrison

    Solomon continues to impart wise sayings to his “son,” which might also mean his student or students

    He made us understand that one application of godly wisdom, both literal and symbolic, is safety from “the adulteress.” While men are generally more susceptible to seduction than women, the general idea applies to everyone. Solomon warns his son to avoid falling prey to smooth talk, alluring beauty, and enticing glances. Solomon compares an illicit relationship to that of carrying fire next to the chest and to walking on hot coals. Both actions cause pain. An adulterer, Solomon says, is senseless and self-destructive. Society might have sympathy for a starving man who steals bread—but not for a man who violates his neighbor’s wife. Adulterers risk suffering from revenge and shame

  2. Akinbobola Esther

    Chapter 6 is full of various Warnings
    1)we must try to be surety for our friend, we should undergo loan without interest
    2) verse 6 to 11 tells us to be Diligent using Ant as a great example and Unity make Ant to work perfectly with God
    3)Verse 16 tell us all what God hates and advise us to keep to our father commandments
    4)WE should not destroy our souls

  3. ADEOSUN OLUGBEMI OLAGOKE

    Solomon started by asking us to be careful of making promises or taking suretiship on anyones behalf or for anything.He then went on to advice us not to be lazy because it will bring poverty on us later,he then talk about characteristics of a wicked man which we may use as a yard stick to pray over our lives if we see any of such character in us.He finally advise us to run from adultery because the end of it is shame.

  4. Gbadebo Toluwalope

    Towards the end if this chapter, we can see how the benefits of wisdom is explained, it says it should be kept with one at every point in life. Everything we need in life is Gods commandments and law, keep to it and look at how it benefits you. It again brings up the issue of the adulterous, don’t lust after another god or another woman or man apart from your God given spouse. When the words of God is in you, it stands as a light to your path that keeps you out of evil
    At the beginning of this chapter, Solomon warns about getting ensnared with the words of our mouth, be careful before you stand in for anyone so you don’t fall victim, pray and ask for wisdom before taking any decision
    It further takes about the reward of the wicked and evil man, their path leads to destruction without a remedy, it tells us the thing our God despise, if only we can follow his words and commandments and keep away from the path of evil then we would receive great rewards.

  5. Merayebu Joy Omowunmi

    Solomon is admonishing his which is applicable to us to beware of what we say to people and avoid foolish talks from people that is we should bridle our tongue,it also tells us to beware of lust for fornication and adultery, the ants to tell us wisdom is the principal thing and must be used judiciously, it talks about humbleness to people and also to avoid lying,stealing,jealousy and so on if not one would be a prey to the predators

  6. Balogun Feranmi

    If you dwell in God’s word , it serves as a light to your path and doesn’t allow the you to go astray. This chapter indicate that one should not have any means of lust towards another man’wife or hubby. It also mention about adultery and its destruction. It also emphasis that commandment is lamp(what guides us),
    law is light(directs our path) Shalom!!!!!!!……… Peace

  7. Imion Angela Ofure

    Chapter 6 is talking about standing in for a friend to help collect loan. Like standing as a guarantor. This is an act of foolishness. It is better to help with what you have than doing such.
    There is a very good advice given in verses 3 through 5.
    The situation is so serious that it is imperative to take control of one’s own God given resources and get out of such an intolerable arrangement immediately “deliver yourself”, before coming to poverty or slavery. The ant is an example of industry, diligence and planning and serves as a rebuke to a sluggard (a lazy person who lacks self control). Folly ends a lazy man to learn from an ant.

  8. Adefuwa Adedokunola

    Verse 1-5: This verse warns against pledging ourselves as a surety because by doing so we are legally obligating ourselves to pay the debt if that other person proves himself unable to do so.
    6-11: This tells about how we need to wake up from our slumber and strive not to be wretched nor poor.
    12-19: Warns about wicked man that goes about speaking and acting in ways that are morally twisted and wrong but disaster will come upon such man suddenly because of his character.
    20-35: Warns about the destruction that comes with whoever commits adultery.

  9. Gbadebo omotolani Esther

    It tells us to be truthful and follow God way abstain from all forms of evil thing and unholy ways help your friend not friends alone your loved ones be diligent and truthful to God

  10. Gbadebo omotolani Esther

    Chapter 6
    It tells us to be truthful and follow God way abstain from all forms of evil thing and unholy ways help your friend not friends alone your loved ones be diligent and truthful to God

  11. Imion immaculate osereme

    Proverb chapter 6 is talking about the things God hates.
    These things are
    haughty eyes i.e,people that are greedy and always wants what others has,God is simply saying we should be content with what we have.
    A lying Tongue: God does not like it when we lie,so,as believers and children if God,we should try to tell the truth at all time.
    Shedding the blood of innocent people: As believers,we should stay away from things that leads to the death of others. It doesn’t necessarily mean we have to kill the person with our hand or a weapon,we can also kill the person with our tongue,so,we should always mind what we say.
    Causing problems in our family: God wants us to always abide in peace and love,we shouldn’t be the reason for our families downfall. So,let’s always try to maintain peace and desist from fights and troubles that will cause the peace in our family to be disrupted

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